If you look back ten years from now, you’d probably think you were in a different world. The world has advanced in many ways since then, and technology is one of the biggest changes. Every year, we take another step further into the future of technology.

     Touch tablets are a huge sensation around the world. The iPad 3 is one of many rumors that has been taking a sweep through the internet.  This device is expected to be much lighter, with a smaller and lighter battery, a high resolution 2048×1536 display, a higher resolution camera, and the newest addition to Apple’s iPhone’s, Siri. Another touch screen tablet expected by the end of 2012 is the Dell Peju. The device is rumored to have an Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM.

     Phones have taken a huge step forward in the past several years, and it isn’t going to stop at 2012. The phone that has had the most attention lately has been Apple’s iPhone. The iPhone 5 was expected to be released by the end of 2011, but instead the iPhone 4S was released. The new iPhone 5, rumored to be released late summer, is expected to have a completely different design. A larger screen is rumored along with a quad-core processor and 4G capability. The iPhone 5 is supposedly the last project Apple founder Steve Jobs worked on before he passed away last June.

Another highly anticipated phone will come from Sony, the makers of Playstaion. The Sony Xperia Ion will have a 1.5 GHz processor with a 16 GB on-board sharing capacity. The phone will be shipped in March with Android 2.3 and powered by Sony’s Bravia Engine, the same technology found in the company’s HD televisions.

     Gaming systems have also taken large advancements in the recent years, and the gaming experience will continue to advance in the new year. Nintendo will release their new replacement for the Nintendo Wii between the second hand of 2012. The Nintendo Wii U has quite a few modifications, one being the controller. The controller has a 6.2 inch touch screen, which shows the screen shown on the TV screen. In addition, the game console will have HD compatibility, making it the only console with full HD games.

      Sony officially announced in December that you shouldn’t expect a Playstation 4 to come out in 2012, but you can expect another product to be released. The Playstation Vita is the successor to the handheld game console Playstation Portable (or more commonly known as the PSP). The PSV includes two analog sticks, a 5-inch touchscreen and supports wi-fi, Bluetooth, and optional 3G. You can expect the handheld to be in stores on February 22.

     For the past few years, new technology has made it possible to watch 3D movies and television at home. On January 18, Sony shipping out their latest advancement to the 3D viewing world: the Sony Personal 3D Viewer. This product is a visor headset that makes it possibly to watch normal television, movies, and even play video games in 3D.

     The new year brings a lot of excitement and anticipation for the technology that comes with it. Whether it’s a video game, a phone, or anything else, make sure to keep an eye out for your must-have gadget this year.